Eyebrow lift: Injection or Surgery
The eye is a key area of the face. It allows us to assess the age and emotional state of our interlocutors. The tail of the eyebrow (lateral part) gradually sags over the years, giving a tired or even sad appearance. The drooping of the upper third of the face also increases the amount of excess skin on the upper eyelid.
As always, the first step is to treat the causes of the problem, not its consequences. Making the eyes look less heavy often requires more than an isolated blepharoplasty. Excess skin is partly due to the lowering of the eyebrow, which is itself secondary to the loss of volume in the temple. As tissue ages, we lose fat and muscle in the temporal area. This loss of volume creates a loss of support and a fall in tissue towards the eyelid.
The first step in lightening the eyes is to restore deep temporal support. Hyaluronic acid is injected deep under the temporal muscle, often providing a sufficient brow lift.
Another injection of hyaluronic acid in front of the orbital rim and under the tail of the eyebrow may be necessary to reinforce the eyebrow lift.
An injection of Botox is very often combined with hyaluronic acid to restore muscle balance. This neuromodulation does not block expressions, giving an undesirable, frozen “Botox look”. On the contrary, it releases positive emotions. A face is an emotional vector. Our aim is to strengthen the elevator muscles by reducing the depressor muscles. The dosage will be very precise in order to obtain a natural and harmonious result.
This concept therefore preserves the patients’ comfort, as they can express their whole range of emotions.
A surgical temporal lift is recommended if the eyebrow does not rise sufficiently despite the injections. It allows the lateral part of the eyebrow to rise obliquely towards the top and the lateral part.
This rise creates a natural rejuvenation by avoiding an overly vertical lift. An eyebrow lift of this kind would result in an over-corrected appearance, giving an impression of perpetual astonishment.
The surgical temporal lift can also correct lateral eyelid wrinkles and raise the upper part of the cheekbone. The scar, hidden in the hair, is not visible. The surgical temporal lift is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic. An average of 8 to 12 days’ absence from work is required, depending on oedema and the social and professional context.
Hyaluronic acid and Botox injections are often sufficient to treat moderate eyebrow sagging.
In more marked forms, a synergy between medicine and aesthetic surgery will optimise the eyebrow lifting effect.
This combination of treatments makes it possible to carry out more targeted and gentler procedures, putting eyebrow lifts back in the limelight.